Total Knee Replacement Recovery

Total knee replacement recovery is something that you will want to consider if you are due to undergo such a procedure. For most people this process will be fairly straightforward but for a minority of people (less than 5%) there can be complications. The total knee replacement operation is one of the most commonly performed procedures in the UK with over 70,000 such surgeries being performed each year. Having this surgery can make a huge difference to people’s lives and most of those who go through with the procedure will be glad that they did. What follows are just a few ideas about what to expect during total knee replacement recovery. It would not be possible to fully describe what happens as each health care facility can have different procedures – here are just some of the most common things to expect.

• Your total knee replacement recovery will begin when you wake up after your operation. This will usually be in the recovery room where you will be attended to by recovery nurses. When you regain consciousness you may still feel a bit woozy; this is perfectly normal. You could also have a bit of pain or nausea and the recovery nurse will be able to provide medication for this.
• Once you are stable the recovery nurse will arrange for you to be taken back to the ward. On rare occasions people can have excessive bleeding or other complications that require them to be taken back into theatre; this is why you need to stay in the recovery room until stable.
• Once you are back on the ward the nursing staff will have to continuously monitoring you. This part of the total knee replacement recovery process will involve having your vital observations (blood pressure, temperature, pulse, and oxygen saturations) monitored for any complications. You will also have your pain and nausea levels monitored and acted upon as required.
• Some surgeons can prescribe preventive antibiotics to make you less at risk of developing an infection – there is some debate as to the necessity of this.
• If you have no nausea and feel alert it should then be OK to resume eating and drinking – always check with the nursing staff first of all.
• The day after your operation you will be usually visited by your surgical team and the consultant will tell you how things went and what you need to do in the future.
• When you are ready the physiotherapist will come and begin some gentle exercises on the knee.
• The nursing staff will be keeping an eye on your wound and changing the dressing as required. If you have sutures then these will be removed in about 10 to 15 days. A lot of hospitals now use dissolvable sutures that don’t need to be removed.
• As soon as your knee is ready you will begin to be mobilised with the physiotherapist.
• If you are making good progress and there are no signs of any complications you will be ready to go home.